Senedd statement urges action on rising costs, climate change, nature loss and insecure livelihoods

MORE than 240 organisations from across Wales have backed a Senedd call for urgent action to build a fairer, greener and more resilient nation.

The Statement of Opinion, tabled by Niamh Salkeld MS, supports the Cymru Together campaign and calls on the Welsh Government to respond to the linked crises of rising living costs, insecure livelihoods, climate change and nature loss.

Ahead of the 2026 Senedd election, more than 240 organisations signed an open letter under the Cymru Together banner, urging political parties to work together on Wales’ most pressing challenges.

The statement calls on ministers to invest in warmer homes and cheaper renewable energy, ensure renewable energy creates community wealth and supports workers, and restore nature by supporting farmers to produce food sustainably while making polluters pay.

It also says climate action in Wales can support communities around the world already facing the worst effects of climate change, while delivering practical improvements to everyday life at home.

Niamh Salkeld MS said: “For communities like mine in Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni, this is about fairness.

“We know that if we get this right, we can tackle the cost-of-living crisis, strengthen our communities and create a more secure future.

“We also know the cost of doing nothing is higher energy bills, more extreme weather and fewer opportunities for future generations.”

Bethan Sayed, Head of Politics at Climate Cymru, said Wales was at a “pivotal moment”.

She said: “Climate action is not a burden on Wales: it is an opportunity to build warmer homes, create good jobs, restore our natural environment, and deliver a fairer future for everyone who calls Wales home.”

Stan Townsend, Head of Policy at Climate Cymru, said the proposals were “practical priorities” that could make a real difference.

He said: “Investing in home efficiency cuts energy bills for households, community ownership of renewable energy gives us the chance to keep more wealth in our communities, and supporting farmers to farm sustainably protects the land and the livelihoods that depend on it.”

Cerith Griffiths, a former firefighter and FBU trade union official, said the campaign connected climate action with lower energy bills, good jobs and healthier communities.

Global Climate Justice Cymru said the statement recognised that “what Wales does matters beyond our borders”, while Race Council Cymru said the campaign showed how climate action could help reduce living costs and create new opportunities.

Cymru Together describes itself as a growing movement of more than 240 organisations calling for a fairer and healthier Wales.

SHADOW HEALTH SECRETARY Natasha Asghar MS has written to the Justice Secretary seeking assurances over the prison placement and official recording of convicted sex offender Paula Stanton.

Stanton, 62, was jailed after admitting an act outraging public decency at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, where court proceedings heard NHS staff were forced to witness a sexual act while carrying out their duties.

The case has prompted renewed political scrutiny over how transgender offenders with histories of sexual offending are managed in custody, and how such offences are recorded in criminal justice statistics.

Ministry of Justice policy for England and Wales states that transgender women who retain male genitalia, or who have been convicted of sexual or violent offences, should not normally be held in the general women’s estate except in the most exceptional circumstances.

Ms Asghar said the immediate focus must be on the hospital staff affected.

She said: “This was a disgusting offence committed against NHS workers who were simply trying to do their jobs.

“NHS staff already face enormous pressure. They should not have to endure predatory or deeply distressing behaviour in their workplace, and they deserve proper protection and support.

“What makes this case even more concerning is Stanton’s significant history of sexual offending, including previous convictions for outraging public decency and indecent exposure.

“I have written to the Justice Secretary seeking assurances that Stanton is being held in a male prison, in line with Ministry of Justice policy on male-born sex offenders.

“I have also asked for confirmation that these offences will be recorded accurately in official crime and criminal justice statistics.

“The public are entitled to clear, accurate reporting of serious crimes. That is particularly important where offences involve male-pattern sexual offending.”

The case sits within a wider and often highly sensitive debate about the rights and safety of transgender prisoners, female prisoners, staff and victims.

Campaigners on one side argue that biological sex must be recorded clearly in cases involving sexual offending, particularly where victims are women or where offenders have male genitalia. Others stress that transgender prisoners can also be vulnerable in custody and must be treated lawfully, decently and safely.

Ms Asghar said her concern was not only about prison policy, but also about the working conditions of NHS staff.

She added: “Above all, my thoughts are with the NHS staff who were subjected to this appalling behaviour. They were the victims in this case and they deserve our full support.

“I have also raised the matter with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to seek assurances about the safety of NHS staff.”

New plans aim to cut delays, reduce costs and stop house sales collapsing

THOUSANDS of homebuyers across Wales could save time and money under a major overhaul of the property-buying process announced by the UK Government.

The reforms are designed to tackle long-standing problems in the housing market, including lengthy delays, failed transactions and unexpected costs which can leave buyers and sellers out of pocket.

Ministers say the changes could reduce the average time taken to buy a home by around four weeks and save first-time buyers an average of £650.

Under the proposals, sellers and estate agents would be required to provide key information about a property when it is listed for sale. New “sales packs” would include details about a home’s condition, leasehold charges and the status of any buying chain.

The Government also plans to introduce earlier legally binding agreements between buyers and sellers to reduce the number of transactions which collapse late in the process.

A major part of the reforms will focus on replacing paper-based systems with digital property logbooks, electronic signatures, online identity checks and AI-assisted conveyancing.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said: “Thousands of people across Wales will benefit from these reforms which will make buying a home faster, simpler and fairer.

“For too long the system has been difficult and complex. This government’s changes will save working people and families valuable time and money when they are buying their new home.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the current system leaves many families “in limbo” and makes home ownership more difficult than it should be.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said buying or selling a home should not be “a drawn-out nightmare of delays, hidden costs, and failed deals.”

The Government says the reforms will be introduced in stages, with a new Code of Practice for property agents expected later this year.

From 2027, ministers plan to consult on mandatory qualifications for estate agents and the wider use of digital tools.

Legislation requiring sales packs, binding contracts and digital property information systems is expected before the end of the current Parliament.